解放前,每年的除夕夜,总能看到有些人手提长筒形的灯笼,在大街小巷之间匆匆来往。灯笼的一面贴着红色的商店仿宋字牌号,另一面则为行业名称。他们的灯笼不是用来照明的,而是一种讨债的标志。过去的商店,都有赊购货物的习惯,特别是粮食、棉布、药材以及南北货业。这些行业为了招徕老主顾,往往在年初由老板或跑街先生分别上门向 Before the liberation, every year on New Year’s Eve, we can always see some people carrying long-shaped lanterns and hurriedly going down the streets. The side of the lantern attached to the red store imitation song brand, the other side is the industry name. Their lanterns are not used to illuminate, but a sign of debt collection. In the past, shops had the habit of buying goods on credit, especially grain, cotton cloth, medicinal materials, and North and South merchandise. These industries in order to attract patrons, often at the beginning of the door by Mr. boss or Mr. Street